March 25, 2025

Linn County News

Published March 26, 2025

Linda was born on Jan. 24, 1942, in Garnett, Kan., to Lester and Almeta Prentice. She was the oldest of three children. Her sisters are Elizabeth (Barnett) and Judy (Scully). Linda grew up near Parker, Kan., and attended the Parker schools. She graduated with her class in 1960.

Linda and Robert Tyson were sweethearts in high school. Linda attended Ottawa University for a year before getting married.

To keep all of the friends from following them after the wedding ceremony, Robert and Linda boarded a four-place small plane with a pilot that was waiting on their prairie meadow. The grass was tall, the wind was out of the wrong direction and the dew was on the grass. Linda and Robert waved at the crowd of about 40 watchers as they went by and ended up going through a fence and ending upside down hanging from their seat belts in their wedding clothes. Linda would say that the 63 years of marriage was always an exciting ride.

Linda, Robert and kids lived in Ottawa, Kan., for a number of years before they moved to the ranch. Linda was a homemaker, rancher and banker. She and Robert raised Registered Herefords at the home they built south of Parker in the late 70’s. She held down the fort while he was flying for TWA or serving as Senator in Topeka.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents Lester and Almeta Prentice. She is survived by her husband, Robert of the home; her two sons Tim Tyson and wife (Caryn) of Parker, Roger Tyson and wife (Rhonda) of Drexel. Mo.; three grandchildren, Emily Pilard (Eric) Mayetta, Kan., Ashley Tyson Andover, Kan., and Christopher Tyson, Drexel, Mo.; and two sisters Elizabeth Barnett, Hutchinson, Kan., and Judy Scully (Joe), Colony, Kan.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Parker United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Goodrich Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 28, at the Church. Memorial contributions are suggested to SANCS, an organization helping children in Southeast Asia.